The Temple Of Santiago, a Church in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, has reemerged after not being visible for many years. A drought this year that hit the Grijalva river caused the water level to drop in the Nezahualcoyotl reservoir by 25 meters (82 feet), according to the Canadian Press.
The church was blocked previously after the construction of a dam nearly 40 years ago, according to USA Today. The church resurfaced in 2002 when the water level was so low that people could actually walk into the church. The church was said to be important due to being located on the King's Highway, a road designed by Spanish conquistadors which was used until the 20th century.
Fisher Leonel Mendoza has been taking curious passengers to see the remains of the church. "The people celebrated. They came to eat, to hang out, to do business. I sold them fried fish. They did processions around the church," said Mendoza, according to the Associated Press.
Architect Carlos Navarete has been researching the Temple Of Santiago for a long time. "The church was abandoned due the big plagues of 1773-1776," he explained. "At that time, we still found the wood from the chorus loft and the roof beams. Also, a large ossuary of the victims of the plague that depopulated the area."
